Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-06-02
The Importance of Political Educa.
ton.

tiOn.
No free government can expect to
long maintain itself without frequent
recurrence, and close adherence to the
principles upon which it is based. No
government ever existed that did not
have within its borders those who were
opposed to it as it then was. This oppo-
sition of course maintains its existence
by being formed into a party. The
avOwed object of which is the main
tainance of the government, but the
silent object of which was its change
of former complete overthrow. This
government at the very Threshold of
its being encountered this foe, in the old
Tories who aided and abetted England
in her war against US by all means that
lay in their power. But God and the
right prevailed, and England and the
Tories We're conquered, and up sprung
the grandest Republic that the world
ever beheld-a government of the peo-
pie, one in which the people are the
sovereign power.
From the day of the Governments
birth till to-day, the great study of
American Statemen has been how to
protect it from its enemies and at the
same time best promote its interest.
The reason of this is because this old
enemy that went down in our midst at
the time of the Revolution is still here
yet. He can be tracked all along the
years from that day to this. And at
the same time every crowned head of
Europe would rejoice to see our Gov
ernment go down, for the reason that
theirs is not government for the peo-
pie, but a government against the peo-
pie, and it costs them millions yearly to
hold the people down. Such govern
ments as theirs are maintained by two
things. Large standing armies and the
ignorance of the People. And the his
tory shows that just in proportion as
the people of Europe become educated,
/ mean the masses, in that proportion
has the love of liberty forced the
crowned heads to relinquish their hold.
1t costs England more money to-day to
hold Ireland in subjection, than it cost
Europe fifty years ago to manage her
dozen or SO little despots. And the lib
erty loving sentiment, Gods highest
privilege to man, is so rapidly increas-
ing all over Europe, that the next twen-
ty-five years will find Ireland enjoying
q free Democratic government and
Scotland up to the point of rebellion
Ireland is at now.
Liberty is divine, and you might as
we'll try to change the winds as to try
to subdue it. But how is it obtained
and maintained? In those countries
that have not it, it is obtained by edu-
eating the youth. An enlightened mind
hates tyranny, and educated people
cannot be held under subsection. Free
dom must and will follow the educated
masses. Just as agricultural imple-
ments, the printing press and the boom
keeps abreast with civilization. In
those countries that have it, it is main
tained by the same causes, together
with frequent recurrence and strict
to the constitution, and prin-
ciples upon which the government is
based.
And this is the rock that nearly
wrecked our ship of state in the last
twenty-five years. This old Tory par
ty had silently grown, by gathering in
the disaffected and disappointed. 1t
saw the weak point i'm the government
that the principle of slavery was wrong.
Uniting itself to those who opposed
slavery, it rode into power. But the
party of the Lincolns, Chas. Summers,
Hamlins, Greelys was an honest party,
a party that to this country was as sa-
cred as life was dear. They carried the
war through and wiped out the greatest
of curses to our government for which
they have the thanks of an ever CRATE
full people. But when the war was over
unfortunately for the Government class
of men were nearly all dead, or bound
that they were powerless.
And then followed such period of
plunder and robbery, thieving and
rascality, as no government ever before
went through. The peoples rights
were disregarded-the public lands were
voted away for private purposes-the
constitution was set at defiance-the
Supreme Court was prostituted for
that purpose-election were carried by
the use of money openly and in viola
ton of law, without fear of punishment
the people caught the contagion, un-
til it seemed more honorable to steal
$50, 900 than to sell hat for $1-the
military was supreme over the civil
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were made and
dispersed as they did or refused to do
the will of the party. At last and in
dignant and an outraged people rose
and drove them from power-some to
prison and some to a secluded private
life, and last of all brought their chief
to his knees at the altar of Mulligan
begging for mercy.
Thus the people paid dearly for their
being led astray. Failing to stand
united against that old enemy of our
Government, we, like the Jew of old,
were doomed to wander for twenty-five
years in the wilderness, and behold the
sacred temple of liberty, pillaged, plum
dered and robbed by rapacious and
sOulless enemy.
But our governments is Gods building
and he has put its enemy to flight, and
restored his people after Furnishing
them for their carelessness and disobe-
dience. The goddess of liberty is again
on her throne. Look to her and follow
her teachings, for the enemy is not con-
quered, only overpowered for the pres
ent' TAYLOR, JR.
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